Year 4 is about to begin!!!

So, I'm still teaching! Going onto year 4! I worked Fast Start this year and the new Frosh are pretty nice. Also, I felt pretty comfortable and was not as anxiety-ridden as the past 3 years. YAY! One of my wishes though is that I could be as funny and quick witted as Ambookgeek. He's just hilarious and the kids enjoy it. Sometimes I think I'm funny but you know, I'm probably just being my dorky self.

I started going to the library a few weeks before schedule to set things up. In the past, I would just start on the official date and feel completely overwhelmed and rushed so this year, I took my time. It was definitely worth it because (1) i learned they updated the IP addresses so all of our databases needed to be informed (2) got to decorate a bit (3) brought in the plants (4) choose a book for Book Bistro book club (5) printed out all the things we needed printed out and finished a bunch of other things that I would have had zero time to do once the kids were on campus.

Goals for the school year:

• find my style/voice
• finish a proposal and present a paper at a symposium (it's due on Sept 15!!!)
• remain flexible and open to new ideas
• experiment (better now because they are cutting our class next year to a semester long course)
• work on personal though professional projects

The Judy Blume project is going well. I read 3 books yesterday - a biography on her from 1982 (there wasn't anything recent at BPL), Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, and Soupy Saturdays with the Pain and the Great One. I read so many kids books I really should take a creative writing course on writing for children and young adults. It is crazy how I can still relate and still struggle with religion like Margaret did and I'm in my thirties! More on that later I think. Also, The Pain and the Great One - hilarious!

On a side note, since everyone is mentioning it - update your link to Librarian in Black. Here is the link, it's moved and it's gorgeous and for some reason, it's blocked by my work computer.

Moving-In Time

I am about to start my 3rd year as a school librarian/teacher at the prestigious school I work at. I wrote earlier about how challenging last year was for me (I was definitely rethinking my career choice - well, the teaching part anyway) but I have a strong feeling that this year will be more interesting and challenging in other ways.

Things I will focus on this year include, but are not limited to (I got this wording from helping my friend, George, who was a architectural spec writer):

• applying the techniques discussed and practiced at the Fred Jones workshop I attended in June


• "work the crowd, or the crowd works you"


• remembering that my students' have enough friends


• preparing for each class, even though I feel I know the material (there are always surprises)


• learning my students' names before I meet them


• being a lot more open with my co-workers (I admit, I was a recluse last year)


• asking for help before it's too late!!!


• be better at taking criticism (thanks for the reminder BSB-"a thick skin")
  

Last week was officially my first week back. We spent 4 days unpacking books, organizing shelves, fixing magazines, organizing boxes for our offices and of course, catching up with my friends. Everyone had a pretty decent summer and I am hoping that I score on some Alaskan halibut that the Library Goddess caught in Homer.

My hands are pretty wrecked from all the moving but today I can actually type for a decent period of time. I still cannot open jars or bottles (e.g. water) but hopefully they will be back to normal tomorrow.

I have to say that the library looks absolutely beautiful! Lots of natural light, cream-colored shelving and the books are not super cramped! The stacks are not super tall! (I'm small and we have small kids) We can even have the tall books stand with their spine labels showing! You would not think that having books with their spines showing is a big deal but visually, it makes a big difference.

They will be moving in furniture soon so I will definitely take pictures after they are all in place.

With all the changes that have occurred this summer, it is fitting that we are in a new library.

Beginning Year Tatlo (Three)

This summer has been a whirlwind of craziness - some good some bad but all meant to happen. Today I am back on campus trying to finish up on curriculum updates and new lessons while listening to Deerhoof. Students are strolling in expecting to find Blades but it's just me. Sorry to disappoint children :)

Anyway, I am planning out my first week of school, while doing all this last minute end of summer work and I am feeling very good about the coming school year. I am trying to remember the lessons from the past two years (trust me! there are a lot of them) and I am feeling much more comfortable with our lessons and also feeling more prepared with class management skills. Things I'm doing this year (after reading I think Blue Skunk Blog)

• re-reading Fred Jones' book
• making a seating chart
• attempting to learn my students names and faces before I meet them
• thinking positive thoughts

More preparation to come...Have a good one! and Hope everyone had a wonderful summer. Let's get 'em!